Container assembly



Sept 27, 1955 H. L. CARPENTER, JR 2,718,995

CONTAINER ASSEMBLY Filed April 17. 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. e Z, far/anim J5: 12v/@ Hei Sept 27, 1955 H. CARPENTER, .JR 2,718,995

CONTAINER ASSEMBLY Filed April 17, 1952 2 Sheets-511661'l 2 Z5 ff y 19 vf 1 f l//7/7///// /w/ f i United States Patent O CONTAINER ASSEMBLY Herbert L. Carpenter, Jr., Lindenhurst, N. Y., assignor to The Greif Bros. Cooperage Corporation, Delaware, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application April 17, 1952, Serial No. 282,817

2 Claims. (Cl. 229-5.7)

This invention relates to an improved container assembly and has particular relationship toa container having improved mechanism for retaining the head or closure in place.

My invention has particular application to drums and containers (such as fibre drums and containers) of the type used for the shipment of bulk materials, raw materials, chemicals or the like. Drums of this type are supplied to the producer or packer of the bulk materials with the heads removed or only temporarily assembled with the drums. After the drums are packed the heads are then assembled therewith and secured in place.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a container assembly, particularly a fibre drum or container assembly, having improved fastening mechanism for securing the head in place which is of relatively inexpensive construction, which is simple to operate so that unskilled operators may be used in assembling and removing the head, which permits the head to be temporarily applied to the drum, which will securely retain the head or closure in place when closed andwhich may be readily opened to permit the head or closure to be removed and thereafter reassembled with the drum.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a container and closure assembly which may be readily opened and closed, either manually or by suitable tools provided for that purpose, or by mass production methods such as a press.

Another object is the provision of an improved seal in the form of a gasket between the container and the closure.

A further object is the provision of an improved clip for holding a cover in place which is' normally in open position and which has a detent for temporarily holding it in closed position.

In the accompanying drawing- Fig. l is a perspective view of a drum assembly embodying my invention with the head or closure secured in place;

Fig. 2 is a detailed sectional view in the direction the arrows on the line 2-2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a detailed view in elevation showing the improved fastening mechanism together with the adjacent portions of the drum and head;

Fig. 4 is a sectional View similar to Fig. 2 but illustrating one step in assembling the head with the drum;

Fig. 5 is a similar sectional view showing one manner of temporarily assembling the head or closure with the drum before it has been filled;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the upper portion of the container assembly showing a modied type of clip having a downwardly projecting detent and illustrating the clip in temporarily closed position;

Fig. 7 is a similar view of the modified clip showing it in fully closed position with the closure secured in place;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the upper portion of a modified container assembly utilizing a gasket showing the head in place with the clips in open position and illustrating a closing die spaced above the assembly;

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Fig. 9 is a similar view showing the closing die in a partially lowered position with the clips pressed into engagement with the flange of the drum; and

Fig. 10 is a similar view with the closing die in fully lowered position with the clips fully closed.

My invention is applicable to various types of drums or containers, particularly fibre drums and containers and I have illustrated it in association with one form of fibre drum. The drum consists generally of a tubular fibre body portion 10 made in the usual manner from convolutely wound laminated layers of fibrous material such as kraft board. The illustrated body is of cylindrical shape and may be permanently closed at its lower end and open at its upper end.

A slip-0n type of head indicated generally at 11 which, in the illustrated embodiment, is made of metal is provided for the open upper end. The head has a central disc portion 12 surrounded by an annular rib 13 near the periphery thereof connected by channel-section 14 to the depending flange or apron 15. The flange of the drum is of such a diameter that the head may be slipped over the open end of the drum, as shown, with the ange snugly embracing the outer side wall thereof. The lower end of the flange is preferably provided with an outwardly projecting bead 16 to reinforce the head and provide a finished edging and to make it easier for the operator to handle the head in assembling it and removing it from the drum. It will be appreciated that the beaded flange of the cover may be readily grasped in the hands of the operator in removing or applying the cover.

The drum and cover as described above forms one type of container to which my invention is applicable. However, it should be understood that it may be used in connection with other types of drum assemblies.

Referring now to the improved fastening device for securing the cover in place, I have indicated the fastening device generally by the numeral 17. I have found that preferably a plurality of such devices should be employed with each drum assembly. In the illustrated embodiment I have shown three fastening devices equally spaced around the outer surface of the drum.

Each fastening device is made of a strip of relatively resilient material preferably metal such as steel. The strip takes the form of a clip having a llat attaching portion 18 resting against the outer surface of the drum a short distance beneath the upper end thereof. The attaching portion is formed with a plurality of prongs 19 struck inwardly therefrom which are projected through the wall of the drum body and flattened against the inner surface thereof with the sharp points projecting into the fibrous material as shown in Figs. 2, 4 and 5. The lower corners of the clip may also be formed with sharp prongs 20 which are turned inwardly and embedded in the fibrous material,

Extending upwardly from the attaching portion to the clip is the fastening portion 21 which is formed or preset to normally project outwardly at an angle as shown in Fig. 4. At the upper end of the fastening portion is an inturned retaining flange 22 formed at a height to overlap the peripheral edge of the closure when the fastening portion of the clip is pressed inwardly in contact with the outer surface of the drum. So as to accommodate the bead 16 the fastening portion of the clip is provided with a transverse outwardly formed rib or bead 23. The retaining flange 22 is of such a length that it` can be folded downwardly over the peripheral edge of the head into the channel portion as shown in Figs. l and 2 to secure the head in place.

As previously stated, the clip is preferably so formed or pre-set that the fastening portion is normally disposed outwardly at an angle as shown in Fig. 4. This provides adequate clearance so that the head can be readily assembled with the container without interference from the clip and without the necessity of the operator attempting to deform or bend a plurality of clips outwardly as the head is being applied.

`Before the drum has been iilled (i. e., when shipped by the manufacturer thereof to the packer or user of the drum) the head may be temporarily assembled with the drum in the manner illustrated in Fig. 4 by simply slipping the head downwardly over the open end of the drum while the clips project outwardly at an angle. If preferred, the clips may be pressed inwardly and the head applied, as far as it will go, over the open end of the drum and over the clips as shown in Fig. 5. Under those circumstances the retaining flange 22 of the clips will prevent the head from being fully applied. The friction caused by the outward force of the clips serves to temporarily retain the head in place against accidental displacement. When it is desired to till the drum, the head thus temporarily applied, is removed, the drum filled and the head again re-applied in the manner illustrated in Fig. 4 with the clips disposed outwardly at an angle. When the drum has been thus assembled, the head is secured in place by pressing the clips inwardly with the ribs 23 embracing the bead 16 and the retaining flanges overlapping the peripheral portion of the head. The retaining flanges are then deformed downwardly in the manner shown in Figs. l and 2 so as to tightly engage the outer surface of the head and project downwardly into the channel portion 14.

When the clips have been secured over the peripheral il' portion of the head, the head will be lirmly held in place and cannot accidentally open. If desired, the clips may be provided with apertures 24 a short distance beneath rib 23 through which a sealing wire may be extended. A corresponding aperture may also be provided in the bead or iiange of the head so that the sealing wire can also be extended therethrough with the two ends of the wire suitably held in a seal. In this way, any tampering with the seal to remove the head can immediately be detected.

When it is desired to open the head, the seals, if any, can be broken and retaining flanges 22 bent upwardly to release the clips with the result that the clips will spring outwardly in the manner shown in Fig. 4 to permit the readily withdrawal of the head. The opening and closing of the clips may be accomplished manually or by suitable tools provided for that purpose or by mass production methods such as a press.

In Figs. 6 and 7 I have illustrated a form of clip similar in all respects to the first type of clip, with the exception that the retaining flange 22 is provided with a downwardly projecting detent or catch. In this connection, the detent may be of circular or elongated form and I may employ a plurality, or merely a single detent such as shown at 25. As in the first form of my invention, the clip is pre-set so as normally to be in the open position shown in Fig. 4. However, the detent is so formed and positioned that when the clip is pressed inwardly as shown in Fig. 6 with the flange 22 overlapping the peripheral edge of the closure and drum, the detent will engage therewith and temporarily hold the clip in this position. Thus, the clips may be pressed inwardly to temporarily hold the closure in place, prior to filling the drum and while it is being shipped or stored. In addition the detents serve to facilitate the permanent closing of the clips since the clips can be held in temporarily closed position while the flange is bent downwardly.

A further advantage is illustrated in Fig. 7 where it will be seen that when the flange is bent downwardly to fully close the drum, the detent will press inwardly into the wall of the closure impressing a similar detent therein and interlocking therewith to thereby resist and prevent rotary motion of the closure. This is particularly helpful where seals are employed since it will prevent accidental breakage of the seals.

In Figs. 7 through 9 I have illustrated a container assembly being closed by mass production methods by a closing die in a press. Thus, I have shown a tubular fibre body portion l@ having a cover 11 assembled thereon. In Fig. 7 the retaining clips 17 are illustrated in open position. Spaced above the container assembly is a closing die 26 which may be suitably supported in a. press in the usual manner. The closing die is provided with a peripheral flange portion 27 having a cam-like liared inner surface 28 which serves to force the clips inwardly when brought into contact therewith in the manner shown in Fig. 9. The upper end of the cam surface merges with a groove 29 adapted to embrace the flange of the container and the channel portion of the closure when the die is shifted to its lowermost position as shown in Fig. l0.

Where a closing die in a press is used to secure the clips in closed position I may advantageously utilize a sealing gasket 30 made of rubber, synthetic rubber, polyethylene, or other suitable yielding material. The gasket should be of annular form and is positioned at the top of the container body flange between the container body and the closure. It may be attached to the closure channel or to the top of the container, or may be free from attachment with either of the parts. When the gasket is used, the head is spaced slightly above its normal position when assembled with the container. As the clips 17 are pressed inwardly upon the partial lowering of the closing die, as shown in Fig. 9, the closure is forced to a slight extent downwardly but it will be noted that the bead of the closure is positioned near the upper portion of the rib 23 of the retaining clip. However, when the closing die shifts to its lowermost position, as shown in Fig. l0, the head is forced downwardly and the gasket is compressed. Simultaneously, the retaining flanges 22 of the clips are bent downwardly to their fully closed positions whereby the head is secured in place. In this form of my invention where the sealing gasket is used, any apertures formed by the prongs 19 in the inner surface of the wall of the container should be sealed with a suitable sealing compound, synthetic resin, or tape to make sure that no leakage occurs at these points.

It will thus be seen that I have provided an improved container assembly, particularly a container having irnproved fastening devices for securing the head in place. Also, in the modified form of my invention the container assembly is suitably sealed by an improved sealing gasket arrangement when the assembly is closed.

It will also be seen that the container assembly is relatively inexpensive and is simple to operate. Also, it is so arranged as to permit the head to be temporarily applied to the drums for ready removal. 'The fastening devices, when closed, will securely retain the head in place.

Modifications may of course be made in the illustrated and described embodiment of my invention without departing from the invention as set forth in the accompanying claims.

I claim:

l. A container assembly comprising: a tubular container body having an open end; a removable closure for the open end of the container having an upstanding peripheral edge and a depending flange with a beaded edge embracing the outer surface of the container body; and a retaining clip for securing the closure in place comprising a unitary strip having an attaching portion permanently secured directly to the outer surface of the tubular container body a short distance from the open end and a fastening portion which is pre-set to normally extend upwardly and outwardly at an angle from the upper end of the attaching portion and having a transverse rib adapted to accommodate the beaded edge of the flange of the closure and provided with an inturned retaining flange at its upper end, said fastening portion and retaining flange being normally spaced sufficiently from the container to permit the cover to be freely applied and removed but being shiftable inwardly to cause the retaining flange to overlap the upstanding peripheral edge of the closure and to cause the transverse rib to embrace the beaded edge of the flange of the closure thereby holding the closure in place, said ange being deformable to fold over and engage the peripheral edge of the closure and said clip being made of a resilient metal so that the fastening portion and retaining ange will resume their normal pre-set position spaced outwardly from the container when the container flange is released from engagement with the upstanding peripheral edge.

2. A container assembly as set forth in claim 1 in which the retaining flange of the retaining clip has a downwardly projecting detent formed therein for engaging the upstanding peripheral edge of the closure.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 357,935 McAdam Feb. 15, 1887 1,138,150 Rietzel May 4, 1915 1,815,970 Eggerss July 28, 1931 1,977,041 Burhen Oct. 16, 1934 2,153,122 Powell Apr. 4, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS 318,341 France Feb. 3, 1902 

